Racecourse campground
Goolawah National Park
Overview
Fishing, birdwatching, surfing and whale watching are just some of the things to do at Racecourse campground, a great beach camping site near Crescent Head and Kempsey.
| Number of campsites | 20 |
|---|---|
| Camping type | Tent, Camper trailer site, Camping beside my vehicle |
| Facilities | Toilets, outside shower |
| What to bring | Drinking water, cooking water, fuel stove |
| Group bookings | Bookings for up to 5 sites and 20 people can be made online. School groups and commercial tour operators can submit a group booking enquiry form. |
| Please note |
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Positioned right on Goolawah Beach, Racecourse campground puts you in pole position for exquisite scenic views and marine wildlife-spotting. Surrounded by paperbarks and coastal banksia, protected from those gusting southerlies by Racecourse Headland, this beach camping spot is a secluded gem.
Set up your tent or trailer and revel in the feeling of freedom. With few facilities and no distractions, your time is all your own. Try the renowned surf break, go snorkelling or fishing, or see if you can spy a dolphin or two.
Depending when you visit, you’ll find this beachside campground either relatively empty or awash with surfers and small groups. Summer boasts a lively vibe, while other seasons offer more opportunity for quiet.
In this picturesque part of the world, it’s just as much fun to watch as it is to do. Go birdwatching or whale watching. Sit by the water and gauge the ever-changing mood of the ocean, get up early to see the sun rise.
Also see
-
Delicate campground
Delicate campground, in Goolawah Regional Park near Crescent Head, offers beach camping and caravan camping and welcomes those camping with dogs. It’s the ideal Kempsey region camping spot.
-
Melaleuca campground
Melaleuca campground is Limeburners Creek’s best-kept secret. It provides a peaceful sanctuary for walking, surfing, swimming, and relaxing coastal camping.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/campgrounds/racecourse-campground/local-alerts
Bookings
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Kempsey office
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6561 6700
- npws.hastingsmacleay@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 247 Old Station Rd, Verges Creek NSW 2440
Park info
- in Goolawah National Park in the North Coast region
Goolawah National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Racecourse campground.
Getting there and parking
Racecourse campground is in the southern precinct of Goolawah National Park. To get there from Kempsey:
- Take Crescent Head Road from South Kempsey
- Just after entering Crescent Head village, take the prominent right turn to Point Plomer Road and into Goolawah National Park.
- You’ll find the turn-off to Racecourse campground a further 6km south along Point Plomer Road
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to this campground can become boggy when it rains.
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available in gravel carparks at Racecourse campground.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Goolawah National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
This is a great time to go beachcombing, feel the sand between your toes on a beach walk, and breathe in the salty sea air. The water is still quite warm in autumn, too, so a swim is certainly not out of the question.
Spring
Roam through the park in spring to go birdwatching and see the coastal heathlands bursting with wildflowers. The colourful banksias and bottlebrush will catch your eye instantly.
Summer
Bring your towel and bathers and hit the Crescent Head beaches. You'll find Goolawah Beach a great spot for swimming, surfing and snorkeling.
Winter
Winter is the time for whale watching. Climb to the headland to spot whales on their annual migration. Plan a winter trip if you prefer a quieter camping experience. Campgrounds are less crowded at this time of year.
Facilities
- Drinking water is not available at this campground. Non-potable bore water is available.
- Firewood for your brazier can be purchased from the campground manager
- Rubbish bins are provided during peak periods – at other times, please take rubbish with you when you leave.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Outside shower
Cold water beach showers are available but there is no private shower block.
Step-free access
Racecourse campground is step-free. The campground is tiered, with flat ground in some parts but also some sloping areas between campsites.
There are hard-packed gravel pathways around the toilet block and shelter. To get around the rest of the campground, you'll need to cross flat grass or slightly sloped and hard-packed ground.
The beach access tracks are step-free, but are natural and uneven.
- Step-free outdoor pathways
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - medium
Racecourse campground is step-free. It has the following accessible facilities:
- An accessible toilet
- A hard-packed gravel path that leads to the toilet and also to the campground shelter
There are some parts of the campground where people with reduced mobility may need assistance:
- The campground is tiered. so parts of the campground are sloped
- The beach access tracks are natural and uneven
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Firewood may not be collected from the park. If you have a brazier you can purchase firewood from the campground manager.
Generators
Sites are not powered and generators are not permitted in this campground.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Racecourse campground is in Goolawah National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
All creatures great and small
A visit to Goolawah National Park is like stepping into an amazing nature documentary. Come to see a huge variety of birds and animals, from ospreys and tawny frogmouths, to goannas and bandicoots, to dolphins and turtles. Go whale watching in winter, or head to the park's north to spot koalas in the tall eucalypts. Bird watching enthusiasts can see beach raptors, shore birds, parrots and honeyeaters. Plus, Goolawah is an important area for dingo conservation; so keep your eyes peeled, particularly at the campgrounds.
Fighting to preserve culture
Goolawah is an Aboriginal word meaning 'yesterday'. Rich in edible resources, the area is highly significant to the local Dunghutti Aboriginal People, who still nurture a close connection with this land, and often camp here to maintain their culture. Locals are passionate about this area, and continue campaigning to limit its development. As you enter the park via Point Plomer Road, an unsealed road once used for sand mining, bear in mind the community's fight to keep this old 'back road' - and its surrounding landscape - natural, rustic and truly reminiscent of yesterday.
Protected plant life
Native plant life enthusiasts will delight in a visit to Goolawah, home of a range of coastal vegetation communities. See if you can spot endangered Themeda grasslands and littoral rainforest on the windswept headlands, and be sure to keep to the tracks in these fragile environments. In autumn and winter, many trees burst into flower, including broad-leaved paperbarks, coast banksias and swamp mahoganies. Not only are these amazing to behold, they're also vital food sources for wildlife, including the endangered swift parrot.
- Surf and stay at Crescent Head Stay across from a beautiful surf beach at Waves Campground and spend your days learning to surf, near the popular surf town of Crescent Head.
Surf's up
Head to the relaxed Goolawah beach to stroll on the sand or go bushwalking, bird watching, swimming or try your luck fishing. Plus, be sure to bring your board - many people regard this part of Australia as home to the country's best surfing. Beachcombing is also popular here - take a bag to collect ocean debris and litter as you walk. Not only will you revitalise your connection with nature, you'll be helping keep our beaches and oceans clean and safe for marine life. At the core of your Goolawah experience is the deep sense of discovery, respect and calm that results from spending time in such unspoiled surroundings. Camp for a few days and be the first to add your footprints to the sand in the mornings. Hear nothing but birds and crashing waves, and gather around a campfire, disconnected from duties, demands and devices. You can even share this incredible experience with your best friend in neighbouring Goolawah Regional Park. The Regional Park's 'Delicate campground' is one of the few northern NSW campgrounds you can bring your dog to, but keep in mind some mandatory restrictions do apply.